Rama IX Bridge

Rama IX Bridge

สะพานพระราม ๙
Coordinates13°40′55″N 100°31′08″E / 13.682058°N 100.519001°E / 13.682058; 100.519001
CarriesChaloem Maha Nakhon Expressway
CrossesChao Phraya River
LocaleBangkok, Thailand
Characteristics
Designcable-stayed
Total length781.20 m
Width33 m
Height87 m
Longest span450 m
Clearance below41 m
No. of lanes6
History
Construction start1 October 1984
Opened5 December 1987
Location
Map

Rama IX Bridge (Thai: สะพานพระราม ๙, RTGS: Saphan Phra Ram Kao, pronounced [sā.pʰāːn pʰráʔ rāːm kâːw]) is a bridge in Bangkok, Thailand over the Chao Phraya River. It connects the Yan Nawa District to Rat Burana District as a part of the Tha Ruea – Dao Khanong Section of Chaloem Maha Nakhon Expressway.[1][2][3]

The bridge was named in the honor of King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 60th birthday. The opening date coincided with the king's birthday, with a million people walking over it.[4] It was the first cable-stayed bridge in Thailand[1] and had the second-longest cable-stayed span in the world when it opened in 1987.[5][6]

The original colour scheme, with white pylons and black cables, was replaced with an all yellow scheme representing the king in 2006.[7][8]

A new eight-lane double-pylon cable-stayed bridge paralleling the Rama IX Bridge has been under construction for some time. Part of the Rama III-Dao Khanong-Western Bangkok Outer Ring Road expressway project, it is intended to relieve traffic congestion on the existing single-pylon bridge. The new bridge's official opening will be in early 2024, after which the Rama IX bridge will be closed for an extensive renovation, which includes a sensor system for added safety.[9]

Bridge structure

View of Rama IX Bridge

The steel superstructure includes the bridge, rigged mast, and cable. The main span of the bridge, which is stretched between two poles, has a length of 450 meters. The main span is a trapezoid 33 meters wide. The bridge has a walkway along its side. The bridge has two main pylons 3 meters × 4.50 meters. This serves to hold the tension of the cable and weight into the pylon pier. The 121 – 167 mm diameter cables consist of many small wires wound together. The cables vary in length from 50 to 223 meters can absorb the tension for 1,500–3,000 tons.[10]

Approach viaducts

The gradually sloping viaducts on each side of the river are dual-double-T, post-tensioned, concrete structures with thirteen 50-metre double spans on each bank cast in-situ with a steel travelling shutter, up to 40 metres above the ground for sufficient shipping clearance.[4]

The senior engineer Peter Hines[11] overcame a major construction problem: On releasing the 950-ton travelling shuttering, the suction of the shutters could pull the new concrete off. I suggested that as we were only carrying the dead load at the time, we should stress the work to about 2/3rds the finally required stress so that the material would not “hog” (rise in the middle) so much – this worked well. After removing the shuttering, we applied the full stress.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Rama IX Bridge". Expressway and Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand. Retrieved 1 February 2008.[permanent dead link‍]
  2. ^ "สะพานพระราม 9 นวัตกรรมก่อสร้างเฉลิมพระชนม์ก้องโลก".
  3. ^ "สะพานพระราม 9 นวัตกรรมก่อสร้างเฉลิมพระชนม์ก้องโลก | รีวิวคอนโด คอนโดใหม่ บ้านเดี่ยว ทาวน์โฮม ทาวน์เฮ้าส์ ปี 2560 / 2017 คอนโดเปิดใหม่, คอนโดพร้อมอยู่ , คอนโด ใกล้-ติด รถไฟฟ้า BTS, รถไฟฟ้าใต้ดิน MRT, คอนโดมือสอง คอนโดให้เช่า ซื้อ-ขายคอนโด เช่าคอนโด ตลาดคอนโด". Archived from the original on 4 October 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  4. ^ a b c Beanz means Hines / Peter Hines — the worldwide civil engineer ISBN 978-1-71-456394-4 pages 17 and 18.
  5. ^ "Rama IX Bridge – 10th Year Inspection & Evaluation". OPAC Consulting Engineers. 2001. Retrieved 1 February 2008.
  6. ^ "กทพ. เบี่ยงการจราจรบริเวณสะพานพระราม 9 ทางพิเศษเฉลิมมหานคร | JS100 - Post&Share".
  7. ^ "Strength in yellow". The Nation. 10 May 2006. Archived from the original on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2008.
  8. ^ "สะพานพระราม 9 ปรับผิวถนน วอนเลี่ยงเส้นทางป้องกันรถติด". 8 January 2014.
  9. ^ Wancharoen, Supoj (9 March 2023). "Chao Phraya Bridge to Open in 2024". The Bangkok Post. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  10. ^ Ramkhamhaeng University Library staff (5 November 2008). "Rama9 Bridge" Ramkhamhaeng University Library.Retrieved 20 October 2013.From http://www.lib.ru.ac.th/journal/bangkok/rama9.html
  11. ^ 26 January 2021 obituary and his photo on page 27 of London's Daily Telegraph.